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Heavy price: the battle for Raqqa, Syria, August 2017

Delil Souleiman AFP Getty

In June 2014 the United States launched an aerial bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria to destroy the military forces of ISISs self-proclaimed caliphate and a few months later formed a now 83-member international coalition to pursue this aim. In September 2015 Russia began providing military support to Bashar al-Assads regime, which was on the point of being overwhelmed by a popular opposition movement the Syrian government regarded as terrorist even before it fell under the control of jihadist groups. US and Russian interventions would in time lead to some 75,000 air strikes against Iraq and Syria.

However much the coalitions actions against ISIS (Daesh) and Russias support for Assad differ in intent and context, both have been disastrous for people on the ground; the bombing campaigns alone have killed between 20,000 and 55,000 Syrian and Iraqi civilians. How can such a figure, which remains an unofficial estimate, be reliably established and how does it break down? In a multi-dimensional conflict involving foreign forces, counting civilian casualties is especially hard, as it relies on declarations by military actors and on information gathering by NGOs, whose work depends on consent.

The US-led alliance reports on its air operations each month, but civilian casualties are sometimes accounted for only long after the event. For example, in July 2021 the coalition said it had conducted 34,984 strikes the preferred term in Iraq and Syria since August 2014. Its public affairs office reported, During this period, based on information available, CJTF-OIR [Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve] assesses at least 1,417 civilians have been unintentionally killed by Coalition actions since the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve.

The same justification always features in these documents: We follow a rigid targeting process for all of our strikes to ensure strict adherence to the Law of Armed Conflict while(...)

Full article:3350words.

(1)Sources: US-led coalition, Airwars, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR).

(9)See Antonin Amado and Marc de Miramon, Syrias propaganda war, Le Monde diplomatique, English edition, September 2012.

(11)Le Monde, 8 January 2018.

(12)Le Figaro, Paris, 27 December 2015.

(13)Syria: Deplorable violence in Idlib against civilians, humanitarian workers must stop immediately: UN Coordinator, UN News, United Nations, New York, 21 June 2019.

(14)The White Helmets: Terrorist accomplices and a source of disinformation, The Foundation for the Study of Democracy, Moscow.

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Iraq and Syria, the true cost of war - Le Monde diplomatique

Soccer fans on the internet are up in arms after FIFA and UEFA announced the ban of Russia's national and club soccer teams from international competition, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Following the invasion of Russia's military forces into Ukraine on February 24, FIFA released a statement on Monday with UEFA stating that "Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine," the statement read.

However, an influx of calls claiming hypocrisy followed as fans called out FIFA's differing treatment of other teams such as the United States and Israel, and the support FIFA has shown Qatar despite reports of human rights issues.

Several called out the double standard shown for the Israel and U.S. teams, referencing the Israel/Palestine conflict in 2021 and the actions of the U.S. military during the Iraq War.

One Twitter user in response to the news wrote, "Then Israel, China, the UAE and Saudi Arabia should also be banned by FIFA, as they [are] all participating in projects that impact World peace at the moment. Let's not be hypocritical."

"Useless, hypocritical and corrupt FIFA, why haven't they suspended the United States for invading many countries over the years? Isn't football supposed to be the beautiful game and a uniting factor in these tensed moments?" one user said.

Others pointed out the discrimination against Zimbabwe and Kenyan teams, which were banned on Thursday for reported government interference in the running of their national soccer bodies, according to the Miami Herald.

"So fifa doesn't want governments to be involved in it's business, but it wants to be involved in theirs? Hypocritical," wrote one user on Twitter.

Another tweeted, "[I]t's hypocritical of fifa to recognize govt and football are not independent on each other...they [should] unban Zimbabwe and Kenya."

Several more found hypocrisy by way of FIFA's silence after a World Cup worker was arrested in Qatar, and human rights groups have warned that there are "serious issues" to be aware of ahead of the 2022 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in November.

"They see little wrong with Qatar, which makes this a hypocritical stance by FIFA," a Twitter user wrote.

The extent of the Russian soccer teams' involvement was called into question, while more than 5,000 Russian civilians have been arrested since President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion.

"Russian football teams have nothing to do with what is happening. FIFA is being hypocritical," wrote a Twitter user.

However, there are a few on the internet who have commended FIFA's move to bar Russia from participating, as one said, "Well done @FIFAcom. The right call," adding several clapping hands emojis.

Newsweek reached out to FIFA for comment.

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FIFA Slammed as Internet Compares Treatment of Russia to U.S. in Iraq War - Newsweek

UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to end Iraqs requirement to compensate victims of its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, with Baghdad having paid out more than $50 billion to 1.5 million claimants.

Michael Gaffey, Irelands ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva and president of the governing board of the U.N. Compensation Commission, whose fund decided on the claims, told the council after the vote that the body's work was a historic achievement for the United Nations and for effective multilateralism.

Ultimately, 2.7 million claims were submitted to the commission seeking $352 billion in compensation, he said, and the $52.4 billion awarded to 1.5 million claimants represents approximately 15% of the total claims.

Under a Security Council resolution adopted in April 1991 after a U.S.-led coalition routed Saddam Husseins forces and liberated Kuwait in the first Gulf War, Iraq was required to set aside a percentage of proceeds from its oil exports for the fund to compensate victims of the conflict.

That share was 5% in 2013, when the council voted to end the possible military enforcement of several requirements imposed on Iraq after the invasion in recognition of improved relations with Kuwait. The level stood at 3% for Iraq's final payment on Jan. 13.

Gaffey said the governing council adopted its final decision on Feb. 9 declaring that Iraqs government had fulfilled its international obligations to compensate for losses and damages suffered as a direct result of its unlawful invasion of Kuwait.

He said the funds governing council gave priority to claims by individuals who were forced to leave Iraq or Kuwait, to those who suffered injuries or whose spouse, child or parent died, or who suffered personal losses of up to $100,000. He said this humanitarian decision marked a significant step in the evolution of international claims practice.

But there were also companies and businesses that received funds. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation successfully claimed $14.7 billion for oil production and sales losses resulting from damage to the countrys oil fields during the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion and occupation.

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The Security Council resolution adopted Tuesday affirms that Iraq has fulfilled its international obligations, that Iraq is no longer required to deposit a percentage of proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas into the fund, and that the commissions claims process is now complete and final and that no further claims shall be made to the commission.

The council terminated the commission's mandate under the 1991 resolution and ordered it to conclude outstanding matters so it can close by the end of 2022.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told the council that his country has concluded an important 30-years-long chapter and embarks on a new chapter in its diplomatic, political and economic journey.

This will be an era of a more prominent regional and international role, commensurate with Iraqs historical and cultural significance for the region and the world, an era during which Iraq will be an active member committed to the aspirations and goals of the international community, he said.

Kuwaiti Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi welcomed the resolutions unanimous adoption and commended such a historic achievement by the council in relation to its work on compensation.

We are fully aware that the aim of compensation is not to punish the aggressor but rather to ensure accountability" and to hold the aggressor liable for damages and bring trust to affected governments and individuals, he said.

Al-Otaibi said the world should not forget that establishing compensation and addressing the impact of aggression are key to building trust, reconciliation and clearing any remaining issues that might in the future stand in the way of restoring and forging relations and achieving common interests of the states concerned.

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UN ends Iraq's requirement to pay victims of Kuwait invasion

Iraqs Razzaza Lake was once a tourist attraction known for its beautiful scenery and an abundance of fish that locals depended on. Now, dead fish litter its shores and the once-fertile lands around it have turned into a barren desert.

One of Iraqs largest lakes, the man-made Razzaza is seeing a significant decline in water levels and has been hit by pollution and high levels of salinity.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Razzaza Lake was a source of livelihood, it had fish including the yellowfin barbel, binni and carp because the water (level) was good, says fisherman Saleh Abboud. But now it has dried up.

Razzaza Lake is the latest victim of a water crisis in Iraq, known as the Land Between the Two Rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. Upstream dams in Turkey, Syria and Iran have shrunk the rivers and their tributaries, seasonal rainfall has dropped and infrastructure has fallen into disrepair.

Hundreds of families used to rely on fishing the Razzaza for their livelihood. Now the number of dead fish that turns up is bigger than the number of live fish they can catch.

Razzaza Lake, also known as Lake Milh, Arabic for Salt Lake, is located between Iraqs governorates of Anbar and Karbala. Its the second largest lake in Iraq and is part of a wide valley that includes the lakes of Habbaniyah, Tharthar and Bahr al-Najaf.

The lake was constructed as a measure to control floods in the Euphrates and to be used as huge reservoir for irrigation purposes. Iraqis and tourists frequented the lake as a recreational spot to cool down during Iraqs hot summers.

Not anymore, with the lake getting smaller every year.

In recent years, it has been affected not only by the water shortage but by drought, neglect and increased evaporation during Iraqs hot summers. It has also been hit by pollution due to the diversion of sewage water into the lake and the theft of water quotas allocated to it.

The lake cannot be used for the purposes of operating water resources because we do not have sufficient quantities of water to boost the Razzaza Lake, said Aoun Diab Abdullah, an adviser at the Ministry of Water Resources.

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Iraqs second largest lake drying up, turning up dead fish ...

Issued on: 24/02/2022 - 16:52Modified: 24/02/2022 - 16:50

Hatra (Irak) (AFP) Iraq unveiled three monumental sculptures in the ancient city of Hatra Thursday, newly restored after being vandalised by militants of the Islamic State group during their brief but brutal rule.

The jihadists released video footage in 2015 of their orgy of destruction at Hatra in which they took guns and pickaxes to the once extensive remains of what was one of the leading trade entrepots between the Roman and Parthian empires in the first and second centuries AD.

A Roman-style sculpture of a life-size figure and a series of reliefs of faces on the side of the great temple were among the restored pieces shown off to journalists.

"IS destroyed everything that was important in this city," senior antiquities official Ali Obeid Sholgham told AFP.

Provincial antiquities chief Khair al-Din Ahmed Nasser said works of art were "ripped out and shattered -- we found fragments all over the site".

"We recovered some pieces, Others which were missing we replaced with the same type of stone."

The restoration work at Hatra is being carried out by Iraqi experts in collaboration with Italy's International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies with funding from the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas.

IS filmed similar acts of destruction by its militants in Mosul Museum, 100 kilometres (65 miles) northeast of Hatra, and in Palmyra in neighbouring Syria.

Iraqi government forces retook Hatra in 2017, several months before claiming victory over the jihadists who swept through much of the north and west of the country three years earlier.

Iraq's ancient heritage had already been hit by a wave of looting of museums and ancient sites in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of 2003.

2022 AFP

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Iraq unveils restoration work at ancient city ravaged by IS - FRANCE 24